Monday Eye Candy: Helvetica and the New York City Subway System

Last week, we featured beautiful spreads from Kit White's 101 Things to Learn in Art School. Today's eye candy is Paul Shaw's Helvetica and the New York City Subway System. Helvetica and the New York City Subway System contains numerous previously unpublished documents as well as more than 200 photographs, most of them original or never seen before. Here are a few photographs from the book (click on each image to enlarge):

 

Porcelain enamel station sign. Rector Street (R/W), 1970s. This is the only remaining sign in Standard Medium among a group of stations on the BMT Broadway and Fourth Avenue lines that were renovated with large colored tiles in the 1970s. Regarding the disappearing mosaics, a TA spokesman said at the time, “We didn’t consider these things had any great artistic merit anyhow.” (2008)

Credit: Paul Shaw

 

Porcelain enamel station sign. 242nd Street—Van Cortlandt Park (1). (2007)

Credit: Paul Shaw

 

 

Illuminated sign. 42nd Street—Port Authority (A/C/E), 1980s? Handcut Helvetica Medium. (2009)

Credit: Paul Shaw

 

Porcelain enamel station sign. Beach 36 Street / Edgemere (A). 2010

Credit: Paul Shaw

 

 

Handwritten directional sign. Avenue N (F), 2010. (2010)

Credit: Paul Shaw